Anodized Aluminum products and components are used in thousands of commercial, industrial and consumer applications, including:

• Structures and architectural categories of all types
• Appliances
• Commercial and residential building products
• Food preparation equipment
• Furniture
• Sporting goods and boats
• Motor vehicle components

Here are a few applications entirely or partially made up of aluminum:

• Building exteriors, such as storefronts, curtain walls and roofing systems.
• Appliances such as refrigerators, dryers, coffee brewers, ranges, televisions, microwave equipment.
• Vents, awnings, duct covers, light fixtures, storm doors, window frames, mailboxes, bathroom accessories, patio covers and wall switch plates for buildings.
• Display cases, pans, coolers and grills for the food industry.
• Tables, beds, files and storage chests for home and offices.
• Golf carts, boats, and camping / fishing equipment for the leisure industry.
• Hundreds of components for motor vehicles of all kinds such as trim parts, wheel covers, control panels, and name plates.
• Exterior panels for aerospace vehicles, clocks and electronic products, fire extinguishers, photo equipment, solar panels, telephones, picture frames, and bathroom accessories.
• Interior decoration and trim.

This is just a small list of products made up of anodized aluminum, designers could take advantage of anodizing for thousands of other uses.

Anodic Coating (Anodized Aluminum) Specifications and Quality Control Standards

The aluminum anodizing industry has established the following standards and guidelines for specifiers selecting anodized finishes:

Since color disparities can arise due to individual interpretations of named colors, it is vital that precise understanding of color and appearance be established for each anodizing project. The appearance of an anodized finish is influenced by more than depth of color.

The variety of aluminum materials and products incorporated into anodizing projects require that an acceptable range be agreed upon between the specifier-buyer and the manufacturer-anodizer on a per-project basis.

Detailed information on the various processes, tests and quality control systems referred to here can be obtained from the Aluminum Association (AA), the Aluminum Anodizers Council (AAC), and individual anodizing companies like our anodizing professionals at SAF, or other trade organizations.

Suggested Anodized Aluminum application specifications and quality control procedures

Finish: All exposed surfaces should receive an architectural anodized finish in conformance with Aluminum Association Standard SSA-46 or AAMA 611 standard. Processing should be sulfuric acid or equivalent anodizing with electrolytic or immersion deposited inorganic pigmentation in the coating. The resulting anodized finish should be continuous, fully sealed and free of powdery surfaces, smut and blemishes.

Alloys: All aluminum should be Aluminum Association alloys as recommended by manufacturers for the use intended and required to produce the specified finish.

The AAC Color Standards detail the specific testing procedures for anodic coating thickness, coating density and seal integrity. These properties can be checked by the appropriate ASTM B244, ASTM B137, ASTM B680, ISO 2360, or ISO 3210.

The anodizer is responsible for the quality control, including inspection and records of inspection, which are available to the customer upon request.

Click here for anodizing designations helpful for developing an anodizing specification.

Click here for Current Anodizing Processes, a comparative table explaining the characteristics and unique features of various aluminum anodizing choices.